​​"The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth" (part 2)

Introduction. It is one of the foundations of most judicial systems – trial by jury. In courtrooms around the country, people come before the bar of justice with conflicting claims. And as jurors, we need to carefully discern the truth from conflicting testimony and render a just decision.

In part 1, we noted parallels between the court of civil law and the "court of religion". We need to carefully discern religious truth from conflicting testimony because the eternal destiny of souls is at stake. And we saw that we can't blindly accept the religious testimony of people based simply on their wealth, fame, education, or official position.

In this part of our study, we'll look at different ways people appeal to the scriptures. As a juror in civil court, we need to carefully discern the truth when defense and prosecuting attorneys make conflicting points about civil laws they believe apply to their case. The same can be said about us as a juror in the "court of religion" when people make conflicting points about what the Bible says. How will you decide what is right and what is wrong?

Relevant Law? One of the civil attorneys makes a claim his client should be judged according to Islamic Sharia law since his client is a Muslim (although living in a non-Muslim country). Or a person on trial for illegal drug possession appeals to a different state's law that has legalized its possession. As jurors, we quickly realize such claims have no merit because the cited laws are not relevant in this trial.

All of the Bible is God's inspired Word. But not all of it is binding as law on Christians today, as easily seen in cases like Gen. 2:16-17 (do not eat the forbidden fruit), Gen. 6:14 (build an ark), and Gen. 22:2 (offer son as burnt offering). Numerous scriptures warn about the need to understand this distinction, especially when it comes to the Old Testament Law of Moses. Consider:

- Acts 15:1-29 "… But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.” … “Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, … For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; …" - Col. 2:16 "Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day" - Gal. 3:23-29 "But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise."

In the "court of religion", some religious people fail to realize this distinction and appeal to Old Testament laws as binding today and authorizing their religious practices. Examples include having "priests", tithing 10%, calling their worship building or group a "temple" or a "tabernacle" with an "altar" and/or "sanctuary", worshipping on the Sabbath, burning incense/candles, prohibiting unclean foods (beyond those with blood), and using musical instruments in worship.

All Relevant Law? Witnesses and attorneys often are selective in their testimony and the laws they cite to bolster their claims. They may tell "the truth", but omit "the whole truth".

The Bible warns about such situations. Consider:

- Prov. 18:17 "The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him." - 2 Tim. 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." - 2 Pet. 3:15-16 "… our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction."

Likewise, in the "court of religion", people may cite verses that allegedly bolster their claims without properly harmonizing all that the Bible says on a particular subject. A notable example of this is the commonly heard appeal to "Faith Only" for salvation (i.e., "All you have to do is believe, accepting Jesus as your Personal Savior.") Beautiful verses such as John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world …") are cited in support of this appeal. Yet, other verses that address the need for faithful obedience are not addressed or minimized. Consider:

- Matt. 7:21 "“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter."" - Gal. 5:6 "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love." - Heb. 10:26-31"For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins" - James 2:14-26 "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? … Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. … For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

Silence and the Truth? If a customer is billed for services he did not ask for and refuses to pay, we easily understand his silence does not authorize and any claims to force his payment are justly denied. Other cases are not so obvious (e.g., a witness pleads the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination, or civil law is silent on a particular part of the case). How are you on the jury supposed to interpret the meaning of silence when it comes to determining the truth?

The Bible recognizes this challenge in the "court of religion" as well. Consider: - Deut. 12:32 "“Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it." - Rom 10:17 "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." - 1 Cor. 4:6 "Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written …" - Heb. 7:14 "For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests." - 2 John 9 "Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son."

From these verses, we learn the dangers of going beyond what is written – the silence of the scriptures restricts; it does not permit or authorize. No one is allowed to engage in any religious practice for which there is no scriptural authority. What about the following?

- Church-sponsored recreation, secular education, or operating a business for profit - "The Bible doesn't say not to play a guitar in worship. I like it and I know God does, too." - "The Bible doesn't say X is wrong, so it must be OK." Where "X" is any number of things, including praying to Mary, praying for the dead, "pornography", "violent video games", specific words for profanity, internet gambling, and such (although often the Bible does address the general concept).

Conclusion. As we have seen, the responsibility of us as jurors in civil courts is tremendous. We must be able to discern truth and render a just verdict. The same is true and even more so in the "court of religion" where numerous conflicting claims are asserted regarding Bible authority, what religious laws we are under, and what we must do to be saved and pleasing to God. Will you be able to discern (and obey) "the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth"?

Bible Questions is a work of the Holly Street church of Christ in Denver, CO. Copyright (c) 2018 Holly Street church of Christ. All material within the website may be freely distributed for non-commercial uses by including a reference to the website.